Huish hardingham



(No Model.) 3 Sheets- Sheet 1.

G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.

STEAM GENERATOR.

No. 348,672; Patented Sept. 7; 1886.

-L1hognpher, Was

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.

STEAM GENERATOR.

Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

N. PETERS, Pholo-Ulhognpher. mumm. n. c.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.

STEAMGENERATOR.

No. 348,672. Patented Sept. 7, 1886.

0G9 Q0 Q0 0 O Q0 0 O O O Q Q0 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE G. M. HABDINGHAM, OF LONDON, COUNTY OF MIDDLESEX, ENGLAND.

STEAM=GENERATO R.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 348,672, dated September 7, 1886.

Application filed March 20, 1886. Serial No. 195,952. (No model.) Patented in England January 3,1884, No. 565.

T 0 aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE G-ATTON l\[EL- HUISH HARDINGHAM, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of London, in the county of Middlesex, England, civil engineer, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Steam-Generators, (for which I have obtained a British Patent dated January 3, 1884, No. 565,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to sectional steamgenerators of the compound water and fire tube type; and it consists in so constructing and working such generators that the gases during their passage through the inner or fire tubes are caused to flow downward and in a direction opposed to that pursued by the wa ter in course of circulation througln the surrounding water tubes. By these means the heating effect on the water is improved,while the liability for dust to become deposited in the inner or fire tubes is diminished.

In sectional steam generators of the kind above referred to, and wherein the water-ways are comparatively narrow, it is desirable with certain kinds of feed water to adopt special measures for preventing incrustation of the heatingsurfaces. For this purpose I employ means whereby certain of the impurities commonly contained in feed-water are separated therefrom before the water passes into circulation, fouling of the water-ways being thereby prevented or greatly modified, and interference with the effectiveness of theheating-surface being correspondingly avoided.

In my improved construction of sectional steam-generator communication is effected between the various sections constituting the generator according to an improved method as compared with that described in the specification to my United States Patent of April 21, 1885, No. 316,032, the connectingpieces employed for the purpose being capable of removal independently of one another and without disturbing the inner orfire tubes. At the same time differential expansion between the outer and inner tubes is more perfectly pro vided for. The ba'lile-plates employed for di-, recting the flow of the gases while bathing the outer tubes are also of an improved kind as compared with those shown in my aforesaid specification or hitherto employed.

In order that my invention and the mode of carrying the same into effect may be fully understood, I will, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, proceed to describe a steamgenerator embodying the features of novelty hereinbefore enumerated.

The design of the generator adopted as convenient for the purpose of the present illustration resembles in some respects that described in the specification of United States Letters Patent issued to me April 21, 1885, No. 3l6,032that is to say, it represents asectional boiler, whereof each section consists of an outer or water tube communicating at each end with the section next in order and traversed longitudinally by an inner or fire tube. It will, nevertheless, be understood that the essential features of my present invention are not exclusively applicable to sectional boilers of the compound water and fire tube type.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of asectional boiler constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a part front elevation and part vertical transverse section on the line 00 m, Fig. 1. Fig. Sisavertical transverse section on the line 9 y, Fig. 1, the back end of the generator being, however, shown in elevation. Figs. 4. and 5 show in front elevation and vertical section, respectively, and .to an enlarged scale the detailed construction of the heating-sections. Fig. 6 shows in plan, and Figs. 7 and 8 in side,view, and to an enlarged scale, the improved type of bafflc-plate as applied to the outer tubes for directing the gases while bathing same. I

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

The steam-generative portion of the boiler is constituted by a group of sections which I will designate A. Each section consists of an outer tube, a, furnished at each end with a head, a, and traversed by an inner tube, a, the water being inclosed between the two tubes. The sections are arranged and connected together in vertical series and communicate with a water-drum, B, below and with a steamdrum, 0, above. The drums B and O are also connected together by a pipe or pipes, D D.

ICO

Beneath the generator is arranged a firegrate, E, 0 being the fire-door, and c a lirebrick shield for the protection of the drum B.

Between horizontal rows of the heatingtubes are arranged directing-plates F for the purpose of causing the heated gases to circulate among and externally to the sections before passing over the front part of the generator, as indicated by the arrows, and gaining access to the inner or fire tubes, a, with which the sections are furnished, and through which the gases have to pass before reaching the flueG.

H H are doors provided, respectively, at the front and rear of the inclosing-chamber, and by means of which access is had for cleaning and other purposes. The water,while exposed to the heat arising from the furnace, is inclosed between the several pairs of tubes a a", and these being placed at an inclination the steam rises toward the higher ends of the sections and passes by way of the connecting pieces at those ends to the pipe 0, and thus to the reservoir or drum 0, each vertical series of sections communicating independently with the receiver 0. The extremity of each of the pipes c is furnished within the receiver 0 with a separator, 0', consisting of a hollow conical body open. above and below and having a tangential inlet. The steam and any water carried over therewith are subjected on arrival in the separator c to centrifugal action, the water or heavier fluid assuming the outer path of rotation, while the steam or lighter fluid becomes separated therefrom and escapes upward in a comparatively dry state from the center of the separator. The separated water is discharged from below, and mingling with the water in the drum 0 passes by the pipes D D, or one of them, to the drum B, and thence to the heating-sections, the circuit for the purpose of circulation being thus complete.

From the foregoing general description it will be perceived that the heated gases, after circulating among the sections and bathing the external tubes, a, pass over oraround the front end of the generator and enter the inner tubes, c at their upper ends, escaping therefrom at their lower ends. The back or lower ends of the fire-tubes a are open to the flue G, the draft whereof causes the heated gases to follow the downward course described. By thus causing the fluids-that is, the heated gases and circulating water-on the respective sides of the medium to flow in opposite directions, a larger proportion of the heat is absorbed by the water from the gases, while the latter, passing in a downward direction through the inner tubes, act in conjunction with gravity to sweep out dust tending to become deposited therein. \Vhere, on the other hand, the flow of the gases is in an upward direction, and therefore is opposed to gravity, as proposed in my aforesaid previous patent specification, the tendency is for dust to accumulate more rapidly, the result being that the conductivity of the heating-surface is impaired and the draft interfered with in consequence of the effective tube area becoming contracted.

For diminishing or preventing incrustation of the heating-surface by impurities contained in the feed-Water, I employ means of the character represented in Figs. 1 and 3. This ap paratus consists of a heater, M, composed of a number of tubes mounted in the steam-space in the drum 0 and terminating at each end in a chamber, m. One of these chambers is pa 1'- titioned into two compartments, m m. The feed-water is introduced, preferably at a high temperature, by the pipe communicating with the compartment m, and passes to the tubes of the heater connected with that compartment. After traversing these it reaches the chamber in at the opposite end of the drum C, and returning by way of the remaining tubes arrives in the compartment m, whence it passes by the discharge-pipe m and escapes some distance down the leg D, as indicated in Fig. 3. The object of this treatment is to en pose the feed-water to the full heating effect of the steam contained in the receiver, it being well known that at a temperature approximating to that of boiling water certain of the impurities commonly occurring in feed-water become solidified. Various other means mi ght, however, be substituted for effecting the necessary exposure of the feed-water to the heating effect of the steam. The impurities contained in the feed-water having become solidified during their passage through the heater M, are thus discharged at a point whence they readily subside to the mud-chamber B, while the purified water slowly rises to the receiver 0 and ultimately finds its way by the leg D and water drum B to the heating sect-ions. The diaphragm b separates the lower or water drum, B, from the mud-chamber B. The impurities are periodically discharged in the form of mud by the blow-off cock b, the drum B being furnished with a drain-cock, Z). Where the feed-water is sufficiently pure to render unnecessary the use of apparatus of the kind above described, the diaphragm b may be omitted, and both the legs D and Demployed for circulating water from the drum 0 to the drum B.

It will be obvious that the means above described for purifying feed-water within the generator itself, but before the said water passes into circulation, are applicable to gencraters other than those having annular water tubes.

For connecting together the sections of my improved generator I employ means such as represented in Figs. 1 and 8; but which may, however, be more fully explained with the aid of the supplementary views, Figs. 4 and 5, the left and right hand portions of Fig. 5 being respectively vertical sections on the lines .2 z and z c, Fig. 1. Each section consists of an outer tube, a, screwed or otherwise fastened at each end in the back wall of a terminal The front wall of this chamber or head, a.

chamber is formed with a gland stuffing-box, a for the reception of the inner or fire tube, a, and has two orifices for the reception of the hollow connecting-pieces a" a, communicating upward and downward, respectively. The connecting-pieces a" are secured and ti glitened by means of the stud and cross-bar a The heads a are subtended by the edges of a rectangular plate, whereby the sections are supported upon one another at proper distances. Loose plates or distance-pieces may, however,be substituted, if preferred. To prevent the inner tubes, (6, working out of position in.a longitudinal direction, the glands may be provided with inwardlyprojecting snugs a, as shown.

a is a plugged hole, through which a steamjet may be applied for the removal of any soot or dust which may have become deposited upon the outer tubes, a.

By means of this improved method of connecting the sections of compound water and fire tube boilers anyone of the connectingpieces-such as a-may be readily removed and replaced without disturbing the inner tubes or their packings, and without necessitating the removal of either of the adjacent connecting-pieces. These facilities are not secured when using connecting-pieces, which serve to carry the inner tubes, or which overlap one another.

The method of construction described socures the further advantage, that the inner or fire tube being free to slide longitudinally in its packings provision is made whereby any differential expansion between the inner and outer tubes takes place without unduly straining either of thctubes or terminal chambers or distressing the packings. Excessive longitudinal movement of the tube in either direction is, however, checked by the inwardly projecting lip or lips with which the glands are furnished.

The manner in which I prefer to construct the bafile -plates F is indicated in Figs. 6, 7, and 8. Instead of allowing such plates to rest in contact with the heating-tubes, I sup port theft at a moderate distance therefrom by means of two or more oblique ribs, f, which rest upon a (:Ol'l'CSIlOlldilJg number of the heatingtubes. Such ribs permit the heat ed gases to reach and to properly bathe the upper as well. as the lower and lateral portions of the heating-tubes, while they present but little obstruction to the longitudinal flow of the gases.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The sectional steam-generator having upwardly-inclined water-tubes a, traversed by downwardly-inclined fire-tubes a", the intervening water-ways being in communication with a w ater-drum, 13, below and with asteamreceiver, 0, above, these being connected by a down' pipe or pipes, such as D, the said generator being provided with self -contained means for the elimination of impurities from the feed-water before the latter arrives in the contracted water-ways, and being so arranged that the gases, after leaving the furnace E, bathe the water-tubes a, and subsequently pass to the flue G in a downward direction through the fire-tubes (t the whole constructed and operating substantially as described.

2. In a sectional steam generator of the compound water and fire tube type, the combination, with the upwardly-inclined water tube a, of the downwardly-inclined fire-tube a, traversing the water-tube and its terminal chambers and serving to conduct the gases in their course to the fine in the direction of gravity and in the opposite direction to that pursued by the water in course of circulation, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. In a sectional steam-generator having.

narrow water-ways, as herein described, the self-contained means for eliminating impuri ties from the feed-water before the latter passes into circulation, such means consisting of the feed-water-heating coil M, exposed to the live steam in the receiver C, and having an outlet to a subsiding chamber, D, the pnrified water flowing thence through the re ceiver G and pipe D to the water-drum B, whence 'the several sections of the generator are supplied, combined and operating sub stantially as described.

4. In a sectional steam -generator of the compound water and fire tube type, the combination, with the feed-water-heating coil M, mounted in the steam-receiver O, of the receiver (l, the water-drum divided by a diaphram, 7), into two compartments, B B, pipes D D, connecting the respective compartments with the upper drum, (3, one compartment serving, in conjunction with the pipe D, for

the reception of impurities precipitated from the feed-water, while the other compartment, in conjunction with the pipe D, conducts the purified water to the generative portion of the boiler, operating substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

5. In a sectional steam generator of the compound water and fire tube type, the improved means for connecting each section with the sections next above and below, such means consisting of two hollow connecting pieces communicating with the section and also with the adjacent sections, respectively, each of such eonnectingpieces being independently mov- IIO able without disturbing the inner tubes or their packings, as set forth.

6. In a sectional steam generator of the compound water and fire tube type, the provisions for differential expansion between the outer and inner tubes, substantially as described, the same consisting in mounting the inner tube in packed stuftingboxcs formed in the head a, in which the tube is free to slide longitudinally, such motion being limited by a stop or steps formed by the gland of the stuff ing-box, as set forth.

7. For use in steam-generators of the watertube type, theimproved construction of baflle- In testimony whereofI have signed my name plate, substantially as described, the same beto this specification in the presence of two 10 ing furnished as to its under side with two or subscribing witnesses. more oblique ribs, which, with a minimum ren duetion oi flue area, serve to support the plate U G M I ARDTAGHAM at such a distance from the heating-tubes as to I permit access of the gases to the upper sides of the latter.

\V i tnesses:

E. \V. THURGAP, O. \V. LEEs. 

